An open letter published by state media in the North added the South "should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal"

Reconciliation? North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un wants the South to stop its annual military exercises

Secretive North Korea has urged the South to end "hostile military acts" to pave the way for reconciliation.

The plea came in an open letter, published by the North's state media, weeks before the South is due to stage joint military drills with the US.

The letter, from North Korea's National Defence Commission (NDC), read: "What is important for paving a wide avenue for mending North-South relations is to make a bold decision to stop all hostile military acts, the biggest hurdle stoking distrust and confrontation.

"Regretfully, the South Korean authorities still remain unchanged in [their] improper attitude and negative stand."

It added that the South "should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal".

The letter is understood to have been sent by special order of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

It follows a proposal from the NDC a week ago that South Korea should cancel the drills with the US.

Last year's exercises led to an surge in tensions, with the North threatening pre-emptive nuclear strikes as nuclear-capable US stealth bombers flew practice runs over the peninsula.